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Robbin Cross places meals inside a school bus that will make rounds in the Franklin Special School District and distribute meals to school children in Franklin, Tenn. Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

Irma Grayson puts together packaged items in breakfast meals that Franklin Special School District prepared and distributed meals to school children in Franklin, Tenn. Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

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"We are seeing a lot of restaurant workers and people who have been laid off," Breckenridge said.

"We are also seeing a lot of people who would not normally come. The kids have been home for a long time and jobs are uncertain."

Last Tuesday, GraceWorks reached an all-time service high at its food pantry, serving 71 people in three hours.

The nonprofit serves on average 30-35 families on a normal day, Breckenridge said.

She also said the nonprofit has seen a 50% increase in requests for rent and utility help since March 19.

Breckenridge said she has seen the community pull together, through food donations to GraceWorks and lunch donated to its workers from surrounding businesses like Marco's Pizza, Menu Maker, Chick-Fil-A and Jefferson's restaurant.

"It's been amazing to see the generosity of this community," Breckenridge said.

Cars line up to receive food distributions at Graceworks in Franklin, Tenn. Wednesday, April 8, 2020.(Photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)

Franklin Special sees increase in families served

Franklin Special School District has also experienced a spike in the number of families served since the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lopez family walked across the street from their Franklin neighborhood to pick up lunch at Liberty Elementary last week as they pulled their toddler Kai, 3, along in a wagon shaped like a sports car.

"This is an escape during the day to get some fresh air," Mauricio Lopez said.

"It's been great because it means we don't have to go to the supermarket for certain items. We've been monitoring what we have and spreading it out."

He said it's a big help to have Kai's breakfast and lunch taken care of each day.

Franklin Special School District is feeding children regardless of residency while school is out during the novel coronavirus pandemic, offering two drive-through locations and multiple distribution spots at school bus stops in east and central Franklin.

Robbin Cross places meals inside a school bus that will make rounds in the Franklin Special School District and distribute meals to school children in Franklin, Tenn. Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
(Photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)

Mauricio Lopez, a chef in Franklin, and his wife Devon, who works in the finance industry, are homebound under coronavirus guidelines like many others. The couple moved to Franklin two years ago and have had busy, blossoming careers since.

"We love the city, and we love the community," they said.

"We are usually on the go, with jobs and daycare, so this is time together that we probably wouldn't have had before," Devon Lopez said.

Devon is working from home full time, while Mauricio was put on leave by a local Franklin restaurant. But "once it's all over," Mauricio will go back to work at the same restaurant, he said.

Jill Chasse picks out refrigerated and frozen food to be included in distributions at Graceworks in Franklin, Tenn. Wednesday, April 8, 2020.(Photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)

The couple said the meals offered every day through FSSD are a big help during a time when they can't work a normal schedule.

Since FSSD began delivering meals, as part of a federal grant based on the percentage of students on free and reduced lunch, the average number of meals provided has surpassed the number served during its summer feeding program last year.

Approximately 40% of children in FSSD are on free and reduced lunch, or live at the government poverty rate. In just 15 days, FSSD served 34,426 meals, while last summer, the district served 50,438 total meals in 38 days.

On average, the district has served 839 lunches and 839 breakfasts, or 1,678 meals, each day.

Cross believes the increase in meals served is a result of families being affected by unemployment due to the coronavirus. The program also expanded to serve Williamson County Schools students as well, which she said most likely contributes to the increase.

"I think we are seeing families who have never needed our services before because many have been laid off or lost their jobs," Cross said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture program allows FSSD to offer meals to all children, so some families are also driving from outside the county.

"The circumstances of this particular closure and the massive loss of family income from business closings can also mean situational poverty has increased in our area," FSSD Communications Director Susannah Gentry said.

Gentry also said she's proud of the dedicated members of the child nutrition and transportation departments, who have come in early every day, stood for many hours in the weather and shared a meal and a smile to all they served.

The district has also launched an initiative, asking for the community's help in paying off student lunch debt once the district goes back to school.

"Some families struggle to pay for their children’s school lunch," Cross said.

According to Cross, FSSD has over $8,000 in unpaid lunch debt. For more information, see fssd.org/take-a-bite.

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Food distribution schedules

FSSD will distribute meals two days a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, instead of everyday starting April 13. The supply will last families most of the week.